The Mission of Hope was a Christian charity. It helped the children of unmarried mothers.

The Mission needed the money collected in this box to run its maternity home, nurseries and children's homes.

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Anonymous

Somone who lived in a Mission of Hope children's home remembers their experiences:

"There was a certain sense of security, like we were in a home, we were well cared for, we were fed regularly, we were warm, all our physical needs were definitely met. But I think deep within myselfI knew something was missing."

"I remember one night I was putting my doll to bed and I remember tucking her in and thinking 'I wish I had someone to tuck me in like that', that feeling that someone belonged to me. I guess I believe they done the best they could with what they knew, but there wasn't a lot of love. Thank God for them but no child belongs in a children's home. But I am grateful because it was there that I gave my heart to Jesus. And Gods hand

has always been on my life ever since."

Helping unmarried mothers

The Mission of Hope opened Birdhurst Lodge in South Croydon in 1906. It was a place where unmarried mothers could give birth to their babies. At the time women risked social disgrace if they had a child when they were not married.

Some mothers were able to keep their babies. Most children were adopted or moved into a children's home.By the 1950s the Mission of Hope ran five nurseries and three children's homes.

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